decent article. exceptions are baja is much safer other than TJ. Baja is still very safe in contrast. Cabo has some issues but read the state department warnings, they generally are up on the serious crime.

and it is true do not park in remote areas by yourself. even beaches. Also the kidnappings in the major cities not baja, are moving to small Mexican business people and their families I have read.

Today in Mexico News Daily: http://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/return-work-others-marching/http://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/return-work-others-marching/80,000 workers remain on strike, 10,000 return to work after being threatened with reprisals. On Friday, the employers offered a 15% increase to wages that run about 120 to 130 pesos a day. But the workers are demanding 200 after having reduced their initial figure of 300 pesos. Today, Sin Embargo reports that the conflict in the San Quintín valley continues. A spokesman for the National Alliance of Organizations for Social Justice in San Quintín accused farm owners of exploitation. “They’re millionaires,” said Fidel Sánchez Gabriel. “They have yachts, their children drive around in luxury cars. They say they cannot increase wages to 300 pesos but the truth is that they are rich thanks to our leaving our blood in the fields.” He also said owners had rejected paying benefits such as social security, vacation pay and others. Sánchez Gabriel said 80,000 workers remain on strike, but about 10,000 have returned to work after being threatened with reprisals. He and his fellow protesters are demanding that Interior Secretary Miguel Angel Osorio Chong travel to Baja California to resolve the situation. -

We now have had 4 different couples stopped THIS month by the Police, at Caribe and Abasolo and Walmart area. The Police demanded them to pay $100usd and they did . The last couple however called me. I told them not to pay. Then I called my husband and the Minister of Tourism, Pedro Aguilar 612 120 3292. Pedro in turn called the Chief of Police. In the meantime the Police got very threatening and apparently threatened to handcuff them if they didn't pay so they paid.Then while the people were waiting for Javier and Pedro, the Police came back and slipped the money back in to them. So if you are driving a rental car, head down to the Tourism office, grab an official complaint form in both english and spanish and show that to the cop. Pedro's cell is on there. I am also looking for tape to put over the name of the rental company on the car.

Never pay USD! (100USD = 1500 pesos) Never give them your license - just tell them you don’t have it with you. Act dumb. Just wave at them. Good idea to get official complaint form whether you drive a rental or not!

I have just acted dumb in the past and waived and said goodbye in English and driven off. They will follow honking that horrible bleep horn - just wave back and keep driving and do a few turns until they are back in traffic and go have a coffee.

If you carry a knife on your person in Mexico, even a pocketknife . . .

You may be arrested and charged with possession of a deadly weapon;You may spend weeks in jail waiting for trial, and tens of thousands of dollars in attorney’s fees, court costs, and fines;If convicted, you may be sentenced to up to five years in a Mexican prison.Claiming not to know about the law will not get you leniency from a police officer or the judicial system. Leave your firearms, ammunition, and knives at home. Don’t bring them into Mexico.

Doesn't really say anything that most seasoned travelers don't already know, but has helpful data on the website. Like: the 24 hour US State Dept Emergency phone number (From Mexico: 001 202 647 4000). If you have to call this number, ask for the Overseas Citizens Duty Officer. If I had trouble on the road driving back North, I don't know if I would depend on 066 or 911.The regular US State Dept. number for US citizens overseas is: 001 202 501 4444.